Chapter 68

Even in the midst of the heavy snow, only those deep crimson, almost demonic eyes had remained vivid in his memory. 

Ting Shu came over, and Ning Shiting looked very happy.

Although Gu Tingshuang was usually someone who enjoyed joining in the fun—though only when it involved Ning Shiting—today, he wasn’t particularly interested in staying.

He knew that the former master and servant likely had much to talk about, so he left early with the little wolf in his arms and headed to the courtyard to practice the Ninefold Spirit Mastery.

By the time he went outside, it was already afternoon. He could faintly hear Ting Shu’s soft voice saying, “Gongzi, I came ahead of schedule to see you secretly. I can’t stay long—I’ll have to leave soon.”

After that came Ning Shiting’s quiet “Ng,” carrying a hint of indulgence and warmth.

Gu Tingshuang figured the child’s visit this time was likely related to Baili Hongzhou’s upcoming deployment to strengthen the defences at Xizhou’s border in a few days. He didn’t take it seriously.

He hadn’t been back to Spirit Mountain for a few days, so he took the little wolf along for a visit.

The golden-backed wolf, having been busy these past days tending to its mate and pups on Spirit Mountain, had left the wolves at the Qing Wang’s manor under Yueya’s care. However, Yueya’s role mostly involved dutifully reporting how much the wolves ate each day, how many had run off to play, and how many remained in the garden.

These mundane tasks were things Ning Shiting had handled on Yueya’s behalf.

As usual, Gu Tingshuang entered the Wolves’ hall atop Spirit Mountain.

Today, the snow yao were unusually quiet, as if their banners had been lowered and their clamour silenced. The stillness felt abnormal.

Gu Tingshuang stood silently at the edge of the cliff. Above him loomed the eternal moonlight of Spirit Mountain; below stretched the seething sea of molten lava. The interplay of the dark night and the dim, fiery glow of the magma created the illusion of a land teeming with red fireflies. Even now, deer and horses continued to mistake the molten sea for solid ground, stepping into the abyss and being reduced to ash in an instant.

His gaze fixed in that direction—toward the distant mountain ranges and the endless expanse of shimmering snow.

The golden-backed wolf approached and crouched beside him, brushing its nose against his fingers. Speaking in the wolves' tongue, it asked, “Does the Wang still care about what he saw last time? The snow yao haven’t shown themselves lately.”

“I care,” Gu Tingshuang replied.

He didn’t elaborate on why, but in that moment, his mind flashed back to the pair of eyes he had encountered before.

Even in the midst of the heavy snow, only those deep crimson, almost demonic eyes had remained vivid in his memory. His instincts had never failed him, and they told him clearly—that figure was almost certainly himself.

Seeing another version of himself appear in the form of a snow yao, stripped of reason and humanity, would be a chilling experience for anyone.

The golden-backed wolf said, “We’ll do our best to track it down for you. The snow yao can conceal their presence within the snow, so it may take some time to locate them.”

“No need,” Gu Tingshuang said. “I’ll investigate myself when I have the time. You are no match for the snow yao. Be cautious in the meantime. After my father leaves in a few days and the manor empties out, move the rest of the wolves to the Wang’s estate. Let Ning Shiting handle it there.”

But at that very moment, a sudden gale erupted!

A blizzard, sharp as blades, roared down from the sky. Gu Tingshuang’s reaction was even swifter. With a wave of his hand, massive vines burst forth from the earth, creating a sturdy barrier that shielded him and the golden-backed wolf behind the thick wall of living wood.

The ice, imbued with malice, pierced through the vines like spears. The thick wood groaned as the jagged spikes drove deep, some even penetrating through to Gu Tingshuang’s side by a few inches. Without his quick reaction, their lives would have undoubtedly been claimed.

The golden-backed wolf was visibly startled. Letting out a resounding howl, it called for the status of the other wolves. Responses echoed back from the surrounding wilderness, the voices of the pack reassuring their leader that they were still alive.

The other wolves were unharmed, and after the commotion subsided, calm returned once more.

In that fleeting moment, the snow yao's aura briefly surfaced but vanished just as quickly. Gu Tingshuang extended his spiritual sense to track it, discovering, as before, that the snow yao could not penetrate the moonlit volcanic terrain protected by the White Wolf God. The icy shards had come from beyond the sea of magma.

Following the faint traces left by the snow yao, he attempted to pursue it, but before he could act, the creature had already dissolved into the all-encompassing snowstorm. To Gu Tingshuang, the entire snow-covered expanse became his search target.

However, as he followed the trail, his spiritual sense, sharp enough to probe the hearts of beings, detected an unusual emotion amidst the fear and dread of the snowstorm that gripped all living things.

It was an inexplicable feeling, akin to the lingering echoes of an ancient, lifeless soul. Apart from desolate loneliness, there was nothing else.

This peculiar emotion drew his attention because the snow yao's aura had fluctuated intensely, triggered by something Gu Tingshuang had just said.

He recalled that he hadn’t uttered anything particularly unusual. The only thing different was three words: “Ning Shi Ting.” It was the first time he had mentioned Ning Shiting’s name in the White Wolf God’s domain.

Could it be because of that?

Gu Tingshuang’s confusion deepened. However, the night had fully descended, and further investigation would be futile.

Under the escort of the golden-backed wolf and a few other adult wolves, Gu Tingshuang returned to the Qing Wang's estate.

As he entered the Fragrant Pavilion courtyard and prepared to summon Hulu for some instructions, he caught sight of Ting Shu, wrapped in a small cloak, hurrying out.

He stopped in his tracks.

Ting Shu walked quickly and didn’t notice him approaching from the direction of the Shizi’s residence. Perhaps thinking no one was around, the little ice mayfly wore an expression devoid of the joy typically seen after meeting an old acquaintance. Instead, it bore a solemnity and maturity that was unnervingly adult-like. Ting Shu’s demeanour was unusually grave.

Ning Shiting’s room was on the second floor, its window glowing with light.

Gu Tingshuang glanced at the direction Ting Shu had left and ascended the stairs alone.

The little wolf trotted ahead of him, gleefully pushing the door open. With a crunching “gazhi” sound, Ning Shiting turned his head from the window as expected.

Having just seen Ting Shu off, Ning Shiting looked slightly surprised to see him. “When did Dianxia return? I didn’t see you in the courtyard earlier.”

“Learning from the little wolf, sneaking along the walls. Of course, you wouldn’t see me,” Gu Tingshuang replied, ignoring the little wolf pawing at his trousers. “Did you send that child away again? He looked like he was about to cry.”

Ning Shiting said, “Why does Dianxia say that? Ting Shu left just fine.”

After meeting Gu Tingshuang’s gaze, he hesitated and added, “Isn’t it that... you’re still upset with me?”

Gu Tingshuang’s eyes landed on a silver-embroidered handkerchief on Ning Shiting’s desk. Curious, he leaned over to inspect it. “What’s this? What did you say to him?”

He wasn’t truly concerned about Ning Shiting’s conversation with the little brat Ting Shu. It was more of a routine check on his prey.

Unfolding the handkerchief, he admired the ink-painting-style mountains and rivers embroidered on it. “This is pretty. I’ll take it.”

Ning Shiting lightly tapped his forehead. “This isn’t for you, Dianxia. Ting Shu brought it as a gift. If you like it, I’ll draw a pattern tomorrow and have someone embroider one for you.”

“You can draw embroidery patterns?” Gu Tingshuang asked in surprise. “Then draw three for me. I’ll tell you what to include later.”

Always scavenging leftovers, he thought. Whether it was Ning Shiting making pastries for someone else or creating embroidery patterns, he’d always grab some for himself too.

“As Dianxia wishes,” Ning Shiting replied with a small smile.

“He came all this way, sneaking around, just to bring you this?” Gu Tingshuang asked. “I thought you two would have a lot to reminisce about today.” He had nearly instructed Hulu to prepare another room for him and the little wolf, assuming Ting Shu would stay longer.

“Mm, he mentioned having matters to attend to at home and couldn’t stay. Now that he’s a young master of the Baili family, it’s only natural he has responsibilities,” Ning Shiting said.

Gu Tingshuang frowned. “If you meet again in the future, make sure to inform me in advance. Be more formal about it. Right now, you’re under watch by many. If someone accuses you of being too close to the Baili family, even a hundred lives wouldn’t be enough to serve as scapegoats for my father. Considering the current situation, the Immortal Emperor hasn’t reached the point of targeting my father. If blame is to be assigned, my father will only punish you. Think carefully.”

“I understand,” Ning Shiting said. “Ting Shu is still a child. He doesn’t understand these things well. This was just a one-time visit. In the future, he’ll follow my arrangements. Once he’s formally adopted by a reclusive Baili family elder, he won’t involve himself in court matters. When the ice mayfly matures and sheds its exoskeleton, he can feign illness. By then, no one will trouble him, and he can visit openly.”

“You’re a Jiaoren,” Gu Tingshuang said with a playful yet challenging smile. “Did you forget who makes the decisions in this household?”

Ning Shiting quickly replied, “Your servant had this thought, but had not yet had the time to ask Dianxia’s opinion. Please Dianxia Shizi, if Ting Shu can come intrude sometimes—could this be granted?”

Only then did Gu Tingshuang look satisfied. “Granted.”

Ning Shiting smiled, his lips pressing together gently.